ISLAMABAD: Japan has pledged a grant aid of 2.6 billion Japanese Yen to Pakistan for the enhancement of flood protection and dike improvement along the Indus River in Sindh Province. The agreement was formalized during a signing ceremony between Japanese Ambassador Akamatsu Shuichi and Muhammad Humair Karim, Secretary of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, held in Islamabad. Additionally, a Grant Agreement was concluded between Sugawara Takayuki of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Pakistan Office and Sabina Qureshi from the Ministry of Economic Affairs.

According to Embassy of Japan in Pakistan, the project aims to fortify the dikes in the Larkana region to mitigate the risks of breaches and consequent economic losses. It involves riverbank erosion protection and the use of a concrete-based embankment construction method, which is uncommon in Pakistan. This approach is anticipated to enhance flood resilience and safeguard about 790,000 residents while protecting local communities, farmland, and infrastructure.

The initiative comes as part of Japan’s ongoing support following Pakistan’s historic floods in 2022. Ambassador Akamatsu emphasized Japan’s commitment to proactive disaster prevention, aiming to minimize dike breach risks and contribute to Pakistan’s broader planning and policy efforts to build resilience against future disasters.

Sugawara Takayuki highlighted the project’s focus on sustainable development, emphasizing that although the concrete reinforcement approach requires higher initial costs, it promises long-term benefits by protecting lives and promoting resilience in Sindh Province. The endeavor is expected to bolster flood protection in the Indus River basin, reduce future flood damage, and support sustainable flood risk management.